by Sharon Kay
“I hoped you would.” Her words were breathy as her nipple hardened, the delicate lace no barrier to the heat of his palm.
“Hell, yes.” The roughness of his jaw scratched her, adding a mix of sensations to the softness of his lips. He caressed her sides, getting too close to her underarm and she giggled.
He raised a brow.
“That tickles. Sorry,” she whispered. Her vision had adjusted to the dimness. An ambient glow from the street lamps peeked in around the window coverings, adding enough light to the room to see his powerful body outlined above her. Her breath caught as he rested more of his weight on her legs.
He licked a meltingly hot path down her cleavage, moving to one side and following the cup of her bra with his tongue. Her core throbbed, but the way he was lying on her didn’t allow her to move. He moved to her nipple, licking through the lace and she moaned.
“Rhys, oh my god, I need to feel you.” Her entire body was a fevered pulse of longing.
He shoved her legs apart to settle his weight in between. “Arms up over your head.”
She complied, willing to do anything to get more of his hands, mouth, body on hers. Anything he asked.
His hands slipped under her back and she arched, pushing her breasts toward him. With a deft snap, he undid her bra and she wiggled out of it.
“Arms back up,” he ordered.
She lay there, half naked and more turned on than she’d ever been in her life. He stared down at her like she was exquisite, perfect, a treasure.
“You’re so beautiful,” he murmured, tracing one finger down the slope of her breast to circle her nipple. It tightened to a stiff, aching point and he grinned, slyly, and rubbed his finger slowly along it.
“More,” she gasped. The tiny sensation wasn’t close to being enough.
He repeated the process on her other side, then did the same thing all over again with his tongue. She bit her lip at the warm pressure of his mouth circling, teasing, flicking her. All the while he played with her other nipple, not letting up the sensory onslaught.
She shifted her legs, wrapping around him, rocking into him without thought. She needed relief, but there were too many clothes in the way. “Rhys,” she whispered, bucking hard against him.
He pulled back, eyes afire. “What do you need, baby?”
“You. I need you so bad. Please.” She brought her arms forward to undo her pants.
He stopped her. “Let me.” He dropped a kiss to her belly button. “You’re like a present I want to unwrap. Slowly.”
Warm hands brushed her skin as he worked her clothes off, from her shorts to her socks and shoes. She lay in only her black lace panties, quivering, aching, dying for whatever he was going to do to her.
“So sexy.” He dragged a line from one hip to the other, and moved lower, zigzagging across her abdomen.
She wriggled, trying to get more of his touch, needing more pressure. Liquid heat pooled between her legs. “Take off your shirt.”
He yanked it over his head, giving her a glimpse of the perfect planes of his chest and that tattoo before he leaned over her and fisted the sides of her underwear. She lifted her hips for him to slide them off.
They were gone in a blink, and her legs were over his shoulders. She was too far lost to lust to be embarrassed.
“Been dying to taste you bella, see if you’re as sweet as I think.” His words rumbled, so close to her needy flesh. His warm breath made her moan. Desire pulsed with every heartbeat.
“Rhys, please.” She didn’t care how many times she begged. He was the only one who could ease this ache. He was the only one she wanted.
He didn’t hesitate, licking a slow path down her center. She moaned, ready to beg for more, but he guessed what she needed. His mouth found her most sensitive spot, circling, and sucking.
Enza dropped her knees wide, needing everything he could give her and more. She pushed against him, and he growled in response, cupping her ass and tilting her to him. He explored and devoured her, nibbling, playing. He flattened his tongue against her clit and she squeaked at the overload of sensation. “Oh. Rhys…” she gasped.
One hand snaked up to palm her breast, while he continued his attention between her legs. She rocked and pushed, rational thought gone, reduced to pleasured sensations. When he sucked her clit hard and pinched her nipple at the same time, she shattered.
Her hips bucked wildly and she gasped as her legs trembled. “Rhys!” She squeezed her eyes shut and stars exploded behind her lids. He kept his mouth where it was as she rode out the waves of bliss, shaking and panting.
Her heart beat a furious rhythm as she gulped air, trying to regulate her breathing. He dotted kisses along her thighs, then her belly, between her breasts, and finally her mouth. She kissed him back with a hunger that was barely sated, tasting herself on his lips. “Oh my god,” she murmured against his lips. She pulled him down, and he braced his weight on one elbow, leaning down to her greedy mouth.
That perfect chest was so close, so tempting. She grazed a hand down, loving his sharply defined muscles. Reaching his belt, she tugged. “Need these off.”
His eyes glowed with amber light as he moved off the bed to stand next to it. Even in dim light, there was no hiding the monstrous erection pushing at his jeans. His handsome face was a mask of determination, trained on her, as he undid his belt. Lethal. Sexy. Hers, at least for now…
She pushed up and walked on her knees toward him, entranced at the sight of him undressing. “Let me.”
He dropped his hands to his sides, lips parted, chest rising and falling. Like he was barely holding back.
Widening her knees, she scooted close enough so that her breasts brushed his chest and a low rumble started in his throat. Stroking her fingers down his abs, she paused at his button, then skimmed down to palm him over the denim.
Crack! His hands smacked her ass then massaged, sliding between her cheeks.
She shivered at the sensation, though all she really wanted was to touch him. “Rhys,” she breathed.
He kept one hand on her ass and moved the other to her front, dipping between her legs. She gasped. “Not fair.”
“Gotta touch you, baby. You’re so damn sexy and sweet.”
The way he played with her was almost too much. She needed to focus on him. God, she wanted to touch and taste the hardness she had only felt through clothing up until now. Leaning forward to kiss his pecs, she popped the button and lowered the zipper. She shifted her hands into the waistband and oh my god, he was commando. He slid his hands up her sides, finding the sides of her breasts and stroking.
With a final shove, she pushed his jeans down. She sucked in a tiny breath as his cock sprang free, heavy and long. It was big, just like the rest of him, and she wrapped her hand around it eagerly. Such soft skin covering such a hard, thick length. Would he fit? But she couldn’t take her hands off him, stroking and cupping his balls.
He groaned and kicked his jeans off, then pushed her back onto the bed.
“Enza. Gods, your hands are good.” Bracing his weight over her on his elbows, he dipped to kiss her, the dusting of hair on his chest grazing along her nipples.
She kept up her play with his body, sensing he was letting her and guessing he was walking a fine line. Desire built again in her lower abdomen and she raised her thighs to clasp his hips. He was sex, danger, and temptation all in one hot, hard package. Too much for her to resist. Hands on his length, she drew the tip along the soft, sensitive flesh between her legs.
With a growl and movement too fast to track, he grabbed her hands and moved them above her head. “Enough. I need you, baby.”
Shivers raced down her arms. God, yes. She wanted him more than oxygen right now. “Yes.” She wiggled beneath him and his length bumped her inner thigh. “Um, you’re…”
She paused, embarrassed. What if she was the first woman who he was too big for? How to even say it? Were all supernatural women able to handle their men’s size?
“What is it, bella?” His mouth was back at her breast, teasing with kisses both aggressive and soft.
“You’re so big. It’s been a while for me. Will I…” she flushed. “Do we…”
“Your body will accommodate me, I promise. You’re part demon, remember?” He leaned down to kiss her. “And I’ll go slow.”
God, she was going to melt. He managed to be so dominant and caring at the same time. “Do we need a condom?”
“No.” He stroked her cheek, maintaining eye contact. “We don’t get human diseases, and I’m not fertile right now.”
“Oh.” She slid her hands along his back, scratching slightly.
He nuzzled her neck. “You ready for me?”
“Yes.” She scratched harder, too turned on to stay worried about his size.
He moved back to take himself in hand and position himself at her entrance, rubbing the tip through her wetness, making her moan. He nudged in.
“More,” she whispered.
He complied, carefully, watching her. She knew he’d stop if her face betrayed even a tiny flicker of pain.
Pressure built as his cock tunneled into her. Wow. His thickness stole her breath. She laid her hands on his chest. “Give me a second?”
He nodded, pulling back slightly through her body, going through the slickness that was almost enough for her big fighter. She forced her muscles to relax, breathing in the sexiness that oozed from his every pore, and smiled at him. “I’m okay.”
He sank deeper and she blew out a breath, taking more of him. He kissed her shoulder and turned to her, as if asking for her signal to power all the way in.
“I’m ready,” she said, though she didn’t know how—
With a thrust, he seated himself deep in her body. Her eyes went wide, and she just breathed through the sensation of fullness. He held himself completely still while she willed away the last of the tension in her inner muscles. She caressed his back, lingering at his powerful shoulders.
“Still good?” he asked.
“Yes. You feel amazing.”
A devilish grin lit his face and he dipped his head for a quick kiss. He pulled back, then slid home. Every long inch of him provided the perfect friction, sparking new sensation deep inside and even though he’d just given her an incredible orgasm, need flared anew.
Shifting beneath him, she moved with him as he kept up his slow pace. He circled his hips and she moaned.
“Arms up again.” His voice was a command, growly and sexy.
She rested them over her head. He set one hand near her breasts, bracing his weight. He was so tall, he could lean over her, kiss her anywhere, and still maintain his steady thrusts into her core. Muscles rippled in his abs, and in his biceps. She was dying to taste, touch…she’d never wanted to do so much with her mouth on a guy before. But something about Rhys called to her on a new level.
She needed more as his body stoked her higher. He slipped a finger down between her legs, circling her clit. God, yes. Lowering his head to her chest, he took one nipple into his mouth, swirling his tongue.
“Rhys,” she whimpered, arching her back.
“That’s it, baby.” He plunged deeper, playing and teasing her, and with a gasp, she came hard. Her hips thrust in a wild rhythm, seeking him, as her eyes squeezed shut. Even behind closed lids, she could picture him. His sexy brown eyes, his intensity all directed at her.
She panted as the waves subsided, opening her eyes in sated wonder. He was so damn hot, and he was with her instead of any other woman in the city. She wanted to melt, do a dance, and squeal all at the same time.
Bliss rippled through her as she met that heated amber gaze, hardly able to believe that she was in his bed.
A demon’s bed.
But there was nowhere else she’d rather be.
CHAPTER 25
RHYS STARED DOWN AT ENZA’S flushed face, feeling primal satisfaction and also wondering how in hell he’d found the patience to give her two orgasms while forcing himself to wait. He still stroked in and out of her tight body, taking her down from her peak.
Easy. She awakened a new instinct in him, to take care of her in any way. That included keeping her safe as well as keeping her happy and orgasmic.
She held his gaze and licked her lips with a curious new look in her eyes. Then she moved her arms from up above her head, where he’d ordered her to leave them. “I want to touch you.”
“Soon, baby.” He shifted back, still keeping them joined, so that he was almost kneeling. He pulled her legs up onto his thighs and held her knees wide. “No more going slow.”
“Okay,” she whispered. “I won’t break.”
“Hell, Enza. There’s so much I want to do to you.” And there was. She was luscious and open to him. Sweet and sexy. He dropped his gaze to their connection, loving the way her body took all of him.
He increased his pace, leveraging her body against his. She made a surprised little moan, biting her lip as she raked his chest with her eyes. Her breasts bounced with his thrusts and she pushed her hair back. Gods, her hair was sexy. He couldn’t wait to pull it while he drove into her from behind.
Images of her swirled through his mind, but nothing was better than her, in front of him, legs spread wide and a sex-fogged smile on her face. He plunged deeper as his need built. She fisted the bedding as he pounded in to her, all of her attention fixed on him.
She studied him with a focus that was far different than the sated glow of a few minutes ago. Not that she wasn’t clearly enjoying herself. Her skin was soft on his, her scent curled in the air, and combined with her sexy sounds, pushed him higher.
Like a siren, she intrigued and drew him like nothing else. He had to have her, explore her, and mark her. Her body was warm and willing. Her sheath gripped him, every stroke was more intense than he’d ever felt with another female.
When she tossed her head to one side, still biting that lip, and moaned his name on a long breath, he came hard. He squeezed her hips as he pumped into her. The hot evidence of his release filled her, giving him relief and a high dose of male satisfaction.
She would carry his scent now, even after showering.
Her legs trembled in his grip and he shifted to lay them down. He kissed one slender ankle before getting off the bed. “Be right back.” He ducked into the attached bathroom for a washcloth, then came back to gently clean her thighs.
Her eyes widened. “You don’t have to do that. I can do it.” She reached for the cloth.
“Just taking care of you.”
“You’re sweet, under the tough-guy exterior.” She took care of business herself and set the cloth aside.
“Yeah?” He didn’t do sweet. But if that’s how she wanted to think of him, he could handle it. He shoved the covers to the side and tugged her down next to him. “Come here.”
She curled into him, laying her head on his bicep and throwing one leg across his hips. She idly stroked his chest. “That was amazing.”
“You’re the amazing one.” He smoothed her hair. “All the shit that went down today? You handled it like a pro.”
“I want to handle it.” Her voice was resolute, but not resigned. She was matter-of-fact, purposeful. “I’m not going to run away from what I am.”
His heart swelled at her bravery, knowing possibly more would be required of her down the road. In his lethal world, everything came with a price. Power, magic, strength, manipulation, it all was commonly traded among the denizens of Torth—even if they lived on Earth. “I’m glad, Enza, and I’ll help as much as I can.”
Her eyelashes fluttered against his pec, the tiny brush making him hyperaware of her. Her small size, her human side, which made her more frail than a full Deserati.
“So…what did you mean when you said you weren’t fertile right now?”
“Lash demons are only fertile at the solstices.” He stroked a hand down her back. “So I can’t get you pregnant right now.”
She giggled. “Um, okay. And Mirand
a said she can conceive at the equinoxes.”
“Yeah, but for you, I don’t know. Your human half might dominate in that area.”
“Hmm. Well, that’s far off in the future. Though my mom is dying to be a grandmother.” She smiled against his skin.
He grunted an acknowledgement, but his mind was reeling. Of course, that was a totally human female thing to wish for. And out of the blue, he didn’t want anyone else to fulfill that wish but him.
Whoa. He needed to get a grip. One thing at a time.
Soft fingers continued their exploration of his chest and abs, then she propped up to study his muscles. She traced his tattoo with her fingers. “This is beautiful.”
“Thanks.” It had been torture getting it, since the only way ink would permanently mark a Lash demon’s skin was by mixing it with Viper venom. But every stroke had served to remind him of the pain his comrades had felt.
“What does it mean?”
He ground his molars. She didn’t need to hear the whole fucked up story of how he had failed. Not now. “It’s a reminder that danger is everywhere, ready to strike. It can be ahead of you or behind you. Even right next to you.”
Her eyes snapped to his with wide-eyed seriousness. And also that new perception she had developed, the way she looked at him as if she knew there was more. As if she could see into his mind…but also into his heart, and knew when to push and when to let the subject die.
But he would never underestimate his little baker. She wouldn’t forget, and one day, she’d ask again. And he would tell her.
She nodded and scooted up so she could lay her head on his chest. “What did you mean when you told me you do computer coding?”
Work was definitely a better topic. “It’s more like monitoring.”
“Monitoring what?”
“Chicago PD, mostly. I keep tabs on their databases to check for suspicious activity that may be supernatural in origin, which they’d never think of. I check on several other major metropolitan areas too.”
“Wait.” She sat up all the way, gorgeous breasts swaying. “Do they know you do this?”
